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Chock

FlySimWare Grumman G44 Widgeon

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Finally got around to reviewing this one. Been meaning to do it for a while:

 

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Alan Bradbury

Check out my youtube flight sim videos: Here

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2 hours ago, Chock said:

Finally got around to reviewing this one. Been meaning to do it for a while:

Nice detailed review. And I liked the history lesson.

I think the main reason for the locks on the landing gear and flaps was so you could keep a hand on the yoke if you had to use the hydraulic pump ( only the left engine drove the hydraulic system, so if that engine failed, you needed to use the pump).  Operation of the gear or flaps required holding the gear or flap lever in the desired position until the gear or flaps were where you needed them.  If you had to do that with your right hand while working the pump lever with your left, you could not also keep a hand on the yoke. So the locks freed up your right hand for the yoke, or radios, etc.

Al

Edited by ark
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Yup, sounds logical to me.


Alan Bradbury

Check out my youtube flight sim videos: Here

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Loved the Goose in FSX and this is on my radar for when water dynamics are sorted.


i910900k, RTX 3090, 32GB DDR4 RAM, AW3423DW, Ruddy girt big mug of Yorkshire Tea

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Love the review Chock. 5 stars...

I know the guys who developed the Goose for MSFS and although it's nice it is nothing like what you get with our bird. But it is very nice for a freeware product and i actually have it and flown it. The Grumman is 100% MSFS native. We have full PBR textures, native flight dynamics, sounds made from Wwise and the best part that you forgot to show was we actually also custom coded a full interactive checklist where the copilot can walk you through all the steps. This is a great feature. And you must check this out.

You can see a small demo here on the interactive checklist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIqeCaJEIoc

Also here you can see how the hydraulic system works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vheTCNOKde4

Edited by Flysimware
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Yup, payware is meant to be better than freeware ;) Especially when we are doing a native conversion of a default FSX model and textures with intrinsic restrictions. However I'd like to point out a few inaccuracies in your above statement:

  • The Goose does not use any legacy XML in the modeldef and was fully converted to ModelBehaviours as a way of learning the new method. We DO however have two remaining XML Gauges ;) and I love that you've been able to update your gauges to HTML now. BRAVO! 
  • The Goose does not use the legacy air file and the flightmodel was updated by Pam Brooker who did the original flightmodel update for the original OzX Team
  • The Goose has full PBR textures ;)

I do not compare the two as they are both very different products though they are sister aircraft :)

As developers we always strive to release wonderful products for people to fly and I really like what you've done with the Widgeon and am looking forward to your continued success!

Great review as always @Chock :) love watching your videos mate.

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You can find the online manual for all of our planes here: https://bigradials.com/pages/documentation
Join us on discord and chat with all the other Big Radials fans: https://discord.gg/4UpzKVSSqZ

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27 minutes ago, Flysimware said:

Love the review Chock. 5 stars...

I know the guys who developed the Goose for MSFS and although it's nice it is nothing like what you get with our bird. But it is very nice for a freeware product and i actually have it and flown it. The Grumman is 100% MSFS native. We have full PBR textures, native flight dynamics, sounds made from Wwise and the best part that you forgot to show was we actually also custom coded a full interactive checklist where the copilot can walk you through all the steps. This is a great feature. And you must check this out.

You can see a small demo here on the interactive checklist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIqeCaJEIoc

Also here you can see how the hydraulic system works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vheTCNOKde4

Thanks for editing your post after I posted my response 😉


You can find the online manual for all of our planes here: https://bigradials.com/pages/documentation
Join us on discord and chat with all the other Big Radials fans: https://discord.gg/4UpzKVSSqZ

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Correction..... Yes i updated my post before you posted, about 5 minutes prior and so i did not go and edit afterwards which would make no sense. So i just want to say i own this bird and i had no idea it was non legacy. So great job. And even in my edit i quoted...But it is very nice for a freeware product and i actually have it and flown it. 

And i should had just said that in the first place as i was not trying to bash the Goose. Like i said I know the developers...

Edited by Flysimware
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Timely review as it has just hit the Marketplace this week.

Though if the ludicrous marketplace performance details were right it would be an instant win in things like Neofly   😄 😄 

According to the MS Marketplace the Widgeon has:

Speed: Mach 0.82

Ceiling: 39,800 feet

Max Takeoff weight :  213,800 lb

Fuel Capacity: 8700 gallons

.. and comes with A320 style Leap-1A turbo fan engines 😄

 

Edited by Glenn Fitzpatrick
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Sounds more like what I’d expect for this:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beriev_Be-200


Dave

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For those interested, the Fysimware Widgeon manual is available here:

https://flysimware.com/website2019/flysimwares-msfs2020-grumman-g-44a-widgeon/

 and interesting additional information, including what looks like some original civilian and military manuals, here:

http://www.grumman-widgeon.com/documents.html

 

Al

 

Edited by ark

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Thanks for the review!  I bought it and it's definitely worth it.  Love the old birds! 

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Just bought this bird and I must admit I was quite pleasantly surprised - I love it ! Sooo much character and looks amazing in VR! Truly feels like flying a WW2 era airplane. The green upholstery is a little low res and there's an irritating constant clanking noise after shutdown but those are minor quibs and I'm sure the dev will fix these down the line. All in all, very satisfied with the buy! 

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1 minute ago, saifs said:

Just bought this bird and I must admit I was quite pleasantly surprised - I love it ! Sooo much character and looks amazing in VR! Truly feels like flying a WW2 era airplane. The green upholstery is a little low res and there's an irritating constant clanking noise after shutdown but those are minor quibs and I'm sure the dev will fix these down the line. All in all, very satisfied with the buy! 

The clanking noise seems to slow down as time passes.  This makes me wonder if it is actually intentional...to simulate the sounds of contracting metal as it cools down, e.g. the engine cowlings.  The sound is louder and clearer in exterior view.  I haven't waited long enough to see if it stops altogether.

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17 minutes ago, bcuomo said:

...This makes me wonder if it is actually intentional...to simulate the sounds of contracting metal as it cools down, e.g. the engine cowlings...

That was my take.  The various sounds are quite unique and give lots of character, including the squeaky fan and the cuckoo-clock noise of the parking brake. 

 


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